From the title alone, I knew The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride was for me. The mention of ayakashi, hello?! This has Lisa written all over it. But aside from that, the synopsis mentions that the story is from the creator of Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, which is an anime I love. Those two things coupled together only mean great things for me!
The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride is by Midori Yuma with art by Mamenosuke Fujimaru. Kodansha is publishing it in the US. In it, Nanao is a young woman whose life has been in ruins due to a yokai curse. When she was younger, she was set to marry the young lord of the Byakurenji family, Reito. After being cursed, Nanao is shunned from the family, treated horribly, and made to be a silent servant. One fateful day, she meets Yako, a powerful son from another important family. He recognizes her true spiritual powers and saves her from her awful life by making her his bride.
Call me a simple woman, but I cannot resist a “damsel in distress” storyline. Serve it to me on a platter because I am eating it up! Especially when the rescuer is a man everyone fears, but he treats his partner with care. Nanao is wary of Yako but can’t help but to be drawn to him.
This first volume lays a lot of groundwork about the world this is set in. We gain an understanding of the spiritual world and the powers that be, as well as the family dynamics. It also hints at troubles coming down the line. At first glance, the plot may not be that unique, but I’m finding that it has a certain charm that sets it apart, especially with the main characters. The spiritual world it takes place in also feels like it has a lot of depth, especially with how Yako interacts with the yokai.
Nanao initially comes across as the powerless damsel despite possessing strong spiritual powers, but something tells me that she is going to level up tremendously. Already, she has made the decision to leave the place she’s been, filled with abuse and oppression, to be with someone she barely knows. She has a lot of agency, and it seems like Yako will only be encouraging that.
The promise of romance along with a spiritual world with interesting yokai characters, like Goki and Zenki, has me already preordering the next volumes. From the way this volume ended, I can tell there’s a lot of good drama on the way, and I can’t wait!
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The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride Vol 1
Story By: Midori Yuma
Manga by: Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Print Edition Translation: Jacqueline Fung
Print Edition Letterer: Madeleine Jose
Print Edition Editor: Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini
Publisher: Kodansha
The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride Vol 1 is available now here.
Thank you, Kodansha and NetGally, for an advanced reviewer copy.
Are there any animes that I can watch that are similar to the story line of the Manga ive looked online everywhere maybe im just not looking im the right places …. idk help!?
One that I feel a lot of people made comparisons to was My Happy Marriage which is on Netflix! Vibes wise, I would recommend Kakuriyo- Bed and Breakfast for Spirits which is by the same creator! its on crunchyroll